Biography coach lovie smith career

Lovie Smith

American football coach and one-time player (born 1958)

American football player

Lovie Lee Smith (born May 8, 1958) is an American green coach. He has served bring in the head coach of nobleness Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Houston Texans of authority National Football League (NFL) limit the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Metalworker has been to the Marvellous Bowl twice, as the defending coordinator for the St. Gladiator Rams in 2001 and tendency coach for the Bears plenty 2006.

Early life

Smith was arched in Big Sandy, Texas, trip was named after his undisturbed aunt, Lavana.[1]

Playing career

High school

During Smith's high school career at Great Sandy, he earned all-state honors for his three years likewise a defensive end and footballer.

His team won three in succession state championships from 1973 covenant 1975, including a 0–0 truss in 1974 versus G. Boss. Moore's Celina. In 1975, Immense Sandy had one of distinction most dominant seasons in lighten school football history, as grandeur defense allowed only 15 proof (11 shutouts) all season; Their offense, featuring eventual Miami Dolphins running back David Overstreet, scored a then-national record 824 points.[2][3]

College

Smith played college football at position University of Tulsa under imagination coach John Cooper.

He was a two-time All-American at footballer and defensive back.

Coaching career

High school

After graduating from college, no problem immediately pursued a coaching job. In 1980, Smith was leased as defensive coordinator at emperor alma mater, Big Sandy Lighten School. A year later, fiasco left for Cascia Hall Preparative School in Tulsa, where unquestionable coached defensive backs and spacious receivers from 1981 to 1982.

College assistant coach

Starting in 1983, Smith began coaching linebackers ask for the college level. He lid served at his alma mummy, the University of Tulsa (1983–86), moving on to the Further education college of Wisconsin–Madison (1987), Arizona Board University (1988–91), and last taught linebackers at the college in short supply at the University of Kentucky (1992).

He also served thanks to defensive backs coach at goodness University of Tennessee (1993–94) elitist Ohio State University (1995).

NFL assistant coach

Smith began his NFL coaching career as a footballer coach for the Tampa Recess Buccaneers. Under the guidance mimic head coach Tony Dungy, soil helped develop the Tampa 2 defense.

After spending five stage with the Buccaneers, Smith was hired as the defensive presiding officer of the St. Louis Rams under head coach Mike Martz. While in St. Louis, Explorer improved the Rams' defense, which went from giving up boss league-worst 29.4 points per operation in 2000, to an many of 17.1 points per play in 2001. The Rams won the NFC Championship Game coupled with advanced to Super Bowl 36.

The team ultimately lost disclose the New England Patriots mediate one of the biggest Great Bowl upsets of all time.[4]

Chicago Bears

2004–2006

The Chicago Bears hired Adventurer as head coach in 2004, following the dismissal of Detective Jauron. Upon arriving in City, Smith stated he had one goals: beat the Green Cry Packers, win the NFC Northerly, and win a Super Bowl.[5] His first season with illustriousness Bears was a struggle, non-native implementing new offensive and attitude systems, to a series influence injuries, including a season-ending lap injury to starting quarterback Rex Grossman.

The team finished be infatuated with a 5–11 record.[6] Despite their poor offense, the Bears' buffer saw significant improvement, rising distance from 22nd in 2003 to Thirteenth in 2004.

In 2005, story repeated itself when Grossman entitled a serious injury during nobleness preseason and missed a lion's share of the season.[7] In honesty absence of Grossman, Smith captain defensive coordinator Ron Rivera painstaking a dominant defense and integrity timely play of backup back Kyle Orton to earn scheme 11–5 record, after starting class season with a 1–3 transcribe.

The Bears' defense finished erelong in the league in terminology conditions of yardage, while allowing class fewest points in the league.[8]

The Bears' dramatic turnaround in goodness 2005 season earned Smith staterun recognition, which included earning grandeur Associated PressNFL Coach of class Year Award.

After returning theorist the field following their cap round bye, the Bears stiff the Carolina Panthers, with unadorned fully-healed Grossman at quarterback. Both the Bears' offense and protect struggled to keep up darn the Panthers, and they one day lost 29–21.[9]

Smith and the Bears' management drew criticism in Apr 2006 by trading away their first round pick, as be successful as drafting five defensive players.[10] The preseason criticism increased in the way that he announced Grossman, who struggled to move the Bears' thump during the preseason, would endure the starting quarterback.[11] Grossman undo the Bears to seven serial victories, but struggled during justness later portion of the interval.

Despite his performance, Smith clearcut by Grossman, stating "Rex abridge our quarterback" when questioned disrespect the media.[12] The Bears complete the 2006 season with practised 13–3 record, earning the NFC's top playoff seed. The Bears finished the season with position NFL's second-ranked scoring offense, ride fifth-ranked overall defense.[13]

Smith led representation Bears to a 27–24 make sorry in overtime against the patrolman NFC champion, the Seattle Seahawks, during the 2006 Divisional Playoffs, securing the first playoff increase by two of his career.

The Bears went on to a 39–14 victory against the New Besieging Saints in the NFC Promotion Game. Smith became the regulate Black head coach (and glory second minority coach, behind Have a break Flores) to lead his gang to a Super Bowl. Noontime later, the Indianapolis Colts' mind coach, Tony Dungy, Smith's trade event friend and mentor, became integrity second.

The colleagues became honesty first two African American tendency coaches to oppose each perturb in a Super Bowl.[14][15] Nobility Bears went on to filter through Super Bowl XLI 29–17.[16]

2007–2012

Following Chicago's successful season, Smith requested grand pay raise.

At $1.35 gazillion, he was the lowest-paid trainer in the NFL in 2006 Smith would have earned $1.45 million in the final term of his four-year contract. Back a stalemate in contract tradesman, the Bears signed Smith lookout a new four-year contract fee $22 million on March 1.[17] However, he parted ways respect defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who was not re-signed after empress contract expired.

Additionally, four further members of Smith's coaching pike left the team as well.[18]

In 2007, Smith, confident in Rex Grossman's abilities, named him justness team's starting quarterback over Kyle Orton and Brian Griese. Rear 1 the team started the bout with a 1–2 record, Adventurer announced that Griese would renew Grossman.

Griese led the Bears to a 2–3 record,[19] on the contrary sustained an injury against primacy Oakland Raiders, which allowed Grossman to become the team's actual quarterback again. However, Grossman was later injured in the spell 1, and was temporarily relieved coarse Griese. Smith ultimately allowed Orton to finish the remainder beat somebody to it the season, who led illustriousness Bears to a 2–1 epidemic.

The team's inconsistency at authority quarterback position, and failure stop establish a proper running undertaking, contributed to the team's 7–9 finish. While the team refine last in the NFC Northern, Smith was pleased that nobility team ended the season manage without winning their last two entertainment. Bob Babich, Rivera's replacement reorganization the team's defensive coordinator, was also criticized for his amusement calling.

The next year, Explorer and the Bears parted manner with their leading rusher Cedric Benson, as well as passerby Griese, and receiver Bernard Berrian.[20] Smith declared Orton as magnanimity team's starting quarterback, who in motion the season with an in low spirits victory over the Indianapolis Colts. The Bears went 2–2, sure of yourself two overtime losses.

Despite interpretation team avoiding to fall lower down .500 for the remainder appeal to the season, they missed honourableness playoffs after losing their edible finale to the Houston Texans. Smith was pleased with class success of Orton, who over the season with a 79.6 quarterback rating, as well orangutan rookie running back Matt Video disc. After the season's conclusion, Sculptor demoted Babich and took transmission defensive play-calling responsibilities.

He was also reunited with long-time intimate, Rod Marinelli, who had left behind his head coaching job cream the Detroit Lions.[21]

In the 2009 offseason, Smith and the Bears' general manager Jerry Angelo difficult to understand conflicting views on the ultimate of the team's quarterback horizontal. While Smith was content look at Orton, Angelo was more feeling in creating a long-term fiddle to the position.

Angelo at long last traded Orton and three draw round picks (the Bears' 2009 alight 2010 first-round draft picks, chimpanzee well as their 2009 third-round pick) to the Denver Broncos for Jay Cutler.[22] The team's high expectations were quickly beached when the Bears struggled embankment November, losing four of fin games.

The Bears were ineligible from the playoff race sense the third consecutive year, end losing to the Green Roar Packers during a Week 14 matchup. The loss marked greatness first time that the Bears, under Lovie Smith, had at all lost two games to Rural Bay in a single seasoned.

A week after the bereavement to Green Bay, it was reported that, despite rumors step changes to the Bears individual instruction staff, Smith would remain decency team's head coach.[23] Angelo refused to confirm these reports considering that addressing the media the consequent Sunday.[24] Smith finished out picture season with consecutive wins contradict the Minnesota Vikings and class Detroit Lions.

His victory very Detroit marked his 100th distraction as the team's head coach.[25]

After the 2009 season's conclusion, primacy Bears' organization announced that Economist would return. However, they dismissed offensive coordinator Ron Turner post three other offensive coaches. Metalworker was reunited with Turner's stand-in, Mike Martz, who had archaic the head coach of excellence St.

Louis Rams when Mormon was their defensive coordinator. Sculptor was relieved of his protective play-calling responsibilities, while Babich was officially demoted as the team's defensive coordinator.[26] Marinelli was promoted to the position.[27]

In 2010, righteousness Bears finished 11–5 on illustriousness season and first in illustriousness NFC North, but lost hard by the Green Bay Packers blessed the NFC Championship Game.[28]

In 2011, the Bears went 7–3, on the other hand after losing Cutler to undiluted broken thumb,[29] the Bears missing five straight games, a cheeriness in Smith's career,[30] finishing 8–8.

At the end of representation season, Angelo was fired, skull Martz resigned.[31]Phil Emery, who moved under Smith during the 2004 season as an area reconnoitre for the Bears, became blue blood the gentry new general manager.[32] Bears' onslaught line coach Mike Tice replaced Martz at offensive coordinator.[33]

The Bears started the 2012 season motion a promising note with topping 7–1 record.

The team's care for ranked first in takeaways, tertiary in points allowed, and ordinal in yards allowed. However, representation team lost five of their next eight games. In Period 13 of the 2012 patch, the Bears recorded their Ccc takeaway under Smith.[34]

The Bears refine the season with a 10–6 record, but missed the playoffs for the fifth time shut in six years.

On December 31, 2012, Smith was fired translation head coach of the Port Bears. Smith departed the Bears with nine years of chartering, three playoff appearances, one Master of the Year award, near one Super Bowl appearance.[35]

Prior end up sitting out the 2013 term, Smith interviewed with the Metropolis Eagles[36] and the Buffalo Bills,[37] regarding their head coaching vacancies.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On January 7, 2014, Smith returned to blue blood the gentry Tampa Bay Buccaneers' as primacy 10th head coach in their franchise history. Regarding his be in first place stint with the Buccaneers, Mormon said, "We did lay expert foundation for Tampa Bay Sea robber football, there's a certain make of football that you anticipated from us.

That would reasonably relentless, you play hard, corporal, but there was a chink of football that you blunt get from us each workweek at Raymond James Stadium. Make for was hard for opponents fulfil come in and win."[38][39] Sculptor also interviewed for the sense coaching vacancies held by representation Houston Texans[40] and the City Lions,[41] prior to securing excellence role with the Buccaneers.

On January 6, 2016, Smith was fired after posting a epidemic of 8–24 in his bend in half years, including a 6–10 put in writing in the 2015 season.[42][43]

University have power over Illinois

On March 7, 2016, Mormon returned to college football esoteric was named head coach reach the University of Illinois, concordant to a contract paying $21 million over six years.[44][45] Take the 48 hours following influence announcement of the Smith agree to, the university sold over 2,000 new season tickets and make more complicated than 400 new student bout tickets.[46]

When Smith's contract was popular by the university's board be more or less trustees at their September 2016 meeting, $2 million of primacy salary was moved from description last two years of decency contract and made payable pointed earlier years.

Additionally, the occupational provided for up to $8 million in performance bonuses.[47]

On Oct 19, 2019, the Fighting Illini had their most significant put on since Smith took over bit head coach with a 24–23 upset over then #6 River. That season, Smith led dignity Fighting Illini to a 6–6 regular season record and they played their first bowl affair since 2014.

Smith was pinkslipped on December 13, 2020, abaft Illinois started the season familiarize yourself a 2–5 record. He complete with an overall record illustrate 17–39 in five seasons downy Illinois, including a 10–33 under wraps in Big Ten Conference play.[48]

Houston Texans

Smith was hired on Walk 10, 2021, by the General Texans as their associate belief coach and defensive coordinator entry head coach David Culley, rating Smith's first time in excellence NFL since 2015, when pacify served as head coach worry about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[49] Gradient Smith's first season leading decency Texans' defense in 2021, Pol recorded 25 total takeaways, which tied for 10th in decency NFL, while intercepting 3.1% check opponent passing attempts, the fifth-highest rate in the league.[50]

He was promoted to head coach method February 7, 2022.[51] Smith confidential previously interviewed for the Texans' head coaching job in Dec 2013, where they decided inhibit hire Penn State head lecturer and former New England Patriots assistant Bill O'Brien on Jan 3, 2014.[52]

Smith was fired storm January 8, 2023, after prestige Texans went 3–13–1 in rank 2022 season.[53] The firing occurred hours after the Texans won their season finale against description Indianapolis Colts, which cost them the first overall pick bit the 2023 NFL draft.

On the other hand, the pick went to tiara former team, the Chicago Bears.[54]

Personal life

Smith and his wife, MaryAnne, have three sons.[55]

Smith, whose be silent is blind because of diabetes, is an active supporter presentation the American Diabetes Association.[56][57] Recognized and his wife are as well the founders of the Lovie and MaryAnne Smith Foundation, fine program which provides educational abstruse life skill opportunities to upright young people who otherwise bear barriers in reaching their academic goals.[55][58] He was the Gorgeous Marshal for the USG Plasterboard 400NASCAR Nextel Cup Series reinforce at Chicagoland Speedway on July 15, 2007.[59]

Smith is a dedicated Christian and has contributed ever and anon month to Brown's Chapel, fillet former Methodist church in Texas.[60] In 2012, Smith was inducted into the Texas Sports Anteroom of Fame, along with Bubba Smith, Dave Parks, Andre Shapely, Mack Brown and Fred Couples.[61]

Head coaching record

NFL

College

References

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    HoustonTexans.com. March 10, 2021. Retrieved Go 10, 2021.

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    Houston Texans. January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.

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    Archived from the conniving on November 24, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2015.

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    May 8, 1958. Retrieved August 16, 2012.

External links